>>just how are the indications, confirmations, improvements and aggravations related...is it just sort of a mix and match mishmash, or do you look for several of one category to let you know you've hit on the right remedy, or just one in each category or just exactly how does this work?<<
There is a unique 'symptom picture' for each remedy, meaning it helps certain things about individuals... If the symptom picture matches a LOT of the animal's characteristics (mental, emotional, physical because they are all related as they are all in the same body) you are much more likely to get a terrific response than if you only match up a few.
>>Is a patient with one indication likely to fall prey to several of them?<<
Hopefully so (by 'fall prey' I assume you mean 'be susceptible to'); that means you chose a good remedy. Taking all the animal's susceptibilities into consideration is how you find a good remedy for that animal. Some horses seem to be prone to skin or hoof fungus, some may get colicky, some may get respiratory probs or behavioral probs. Whatever they are prone to is what you look at; it doesn't matter so much where it came from, like fungus, it means that animal has a weakness in fighting it off. (Do not all the horses in the field or stable get the same exposure? Why is it that some come down with something and others don't? That is what you look at - the susceptibility means an underlying imbalance somewhere somehow.)
>>Or does a particular remedy just work well for several unrelated afflictions?<<
All afflictions in the same body are related; one remedy will work for a horse that, say, has thrush, warts on a certain area of the body, prefers the cold, gets worse at 5AM etc whereas another remedy will work for thrush if the horse prefers the warm, tends to get a cough in damp weather, likes to be alone, etc. There is an unlimited number of 'symptoms' to consider when choosing a remedy. It really gets you observing your horse, doesn't it??
>>Does the fact that Buddy is still irritable mean that he still has a need for silica even though his sore has healed up?<<
If Buddy's sore healed up without the use of a homeopathic remedy, he either has good recuperative powers, or some medication cleared it up for him, and the sore is probably gone for now. However, the underlying susceptibility to GET sores that abscess and don't clear up readily is not gone. He will likely get another sore at some point that will do the same thing. That's where homeopathy is different - the remedy stimulates the body through it's vital force to heal itself, say to clear up the suppurating sore on the withers. The body, because it heals itself, will 'learn' how to do that for future incidences. The underlying tendency to get such sores diminishes. Homeopathy thus erases such susceptibilities and strengthens the animal. (That's a very simple explanation.) Homeopathic Silica typically works well for one who gets wounds that suppurate; other remedies do too. It is important to look at all the horse's characteristics before deciding on one.
>>To what extent is it safe for a dabbler to fiddle with homeopathic remedies?<<
Worlds safer than one 'dabbling' at herbs, which is why I appreciate Patti so much, as long as you are not experimenting on a very sick, or even chronically sick, person or animal. It is a very powerful form of medicine and should not be taken lightly; however, acute situations, such as injuries, colds that just came on, fevers (which are good, meaning the body is actively fighting something off), and even colics til the vet gets there (they may go right back home) - are easy. I did a lot of experimenting on my animals for a lot of things; kept notes of what remedies worked well for what animals and found that a remedy would help one animal with a problem but not the seemingly-same problem in another. The neat thing about homeopathy is it is non-toxic, non-manipulative, acts on the vital force so the 'message' from the remedy can be ignored if it is not the right remedy; and I find it very effective (instantly in many cases) and forgiving if I don't choose well. There are also a lot of choices.
>>How about mixing and matching combinations of remedies?<<
Classical homeopathy insists on one well-chosen remedy being used at one time TO CURE, meaning that when properly done, homeopathy has the potential to eliminate forever things such as allergies, asthma, even terminal diseases (because of the body's innate ability to cure and rebalance itself given the proper support and stimulus). However, in a pinch, acute situation or emergency, I use what I can get the quickest. Some combination remedies actually contain remedies that 'cancel each other out' in some aspects, so they are sometimes a shot in the dark But it only takes one shot to hit the target... Also, some remedies complement the actions of others. I think combinations have a place in those situations.
>>Do you think bach flowers or homeopathic meds work best for mental/emotional symptoms? Just depends, case by case?<<
Yep - actually, flower essences are homeopathic in that they are diluted and energized and stimulate the vital force. Both can CURE, and both include the mental/emotional, as do most complementary therapies, right? I think that flower essences typically work well for curing problems that have an emotional basis (as opposed to problems that are injury-based), and homeopathics for any basis. This is not to say that injuries don't have emotions involved... I guess what I'm getting at is a simple whack on the cannon bone that ends up a bony bump will likely respond better to homeopathy than flower essences. UNLESS some emotional experience in the animal's past caused an underlying imbalance causing a susceptibility to bony bumps... Am I making ANY sense?
>>Do you use them together?<<
I do, but usually only for injuries, stresses, acute situations. I love Rescue Remedy. I give that first in emergencies (and to me too). I also may give it to buy some time as it works while I research another remedy. For other problems I tend to use homeopathy alone and see how well I have chosen first; if I don't get results with that, I try flower essences. That way I know which helped. Some of my horses have long, unknown pasts...
>>Do you stay away from using EOs alone with h.rems. or are you just careful with it?<<
I rarely use EOs. Aromatic ones have such strong energies that they can wipe out the energies in homeopathic remedies. *Never store them near each other.* It is said though that a properly chosen homeopathic will work 'come hell or high water' (as long as its powers get to the mucous membranes!) so I think it is possible to 'sensibly' use them together. I also have heard that sometimes they enhance each others' actions.
>>Do you have any particularly favorite books on homeopathy? This little thing that I bought is so small it should have been free!<<
I have many favorites. For animals? people? both? for remedy descriptions or for their use or both?
From Randi, who strangely feels like she just took a quiz... (how'd I do?)
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